Ad-astra-affecte-spe - Reach For The Stars With Hope

Astronomical photographs, Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, 1890-1920

A hexagonal storm with a diameter of 25,000 km raging at the north pole of Saturn.

The first simulated image of a black hole was calculated with an IBM 7040 computer using 1960 punch cards and hand-plotted by French astrophysicist Jean-Pierre Luminet in 1978.

2024 March 5

NGC 2170: Angel Nebula Abstract Art Image Credit & Copyright: David Moulton

Explanation: Is this a painting or a photograph? In this celestial abstract art composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula NGC 2170, also known as the Angel Nebula, shines just above the image center. Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars, NGC 2170 is joined by other bluish reflection nebulae, a red emission region, many dark absorption nebulae, and a backdrop of colorful stars. Like the common household items that abstract painters often choose for their subjects, the clouds of gas, dust, and hot stars featured here are also commonly found in a setting like this one – a massive, star-forming molecular cloud in the constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros). The giant molecular cloud, Mon R2, is impressively close, estimated to be only 2,400 light-years or so away. At that distance, this canvas would be over 60 light-years across.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240305.html

New pics of Io just dropped

More are over here at NASA's Juno probe site.

M85 (center right) and NGC 4394 (center left) // Bart Delsaert

M85 is an elliptical galaxy, but one that has a complex series of shells and ripples. These features are thought to have been created some 4-7 billion years ago when it merged with another galaxy. It is currently interacting with the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4394, which might be supporting the shells' structure.

This galaxy was an original discovery of Méchain's in 1781 and is an isolated member of the Virgo Cluster, about 60 million light years away.

I'm having too much fun taking Skye sky photos on a cloudless winter's night. From May until the end of July it doesn't get dark enough for stars. (Pixel 5 in Night Mode / Astrophotography AI on.)

Jupiter

Make way for the king of the solar system! 👑

New Webb images of Jupiter highlight the planet’s features, including its turbulent Great Red Spot (shown in white here), in amazing detail. These images were processed by citizen scientist Judy Schmid.

Cosmic Delights and Distant Discoveries Unfold in ‘Astronomy Photographer of the Year 15’